Soap holder and applicator



Aug. 31, 1965 R. E. HAWKINS ETAL SOAP HOLDER AND APPLICATOR Filed May 7,1963 IIIIIIII INVENTOR. E. HAWKINS J. VAN Z LE ROBERT ROBER ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,203,024 SOAP HOLDER AND APPLICATQR Robert E.Hawkins and Robert J. Van Zile, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignors toLather-Stilt, Inc, Fort Wayne, Ind. Filed May 7, 1963, Ser. No. 278,655Claims. (Cl. -555) This invention relates generally to devices forapplying soap, and more specifically to a combination soap holder andapplicator particularly suited for shaving.

It has in the past been recognized that there is a need for an improvedbrush-type device that contains therein an amount of suitably latherablesoap which can easily be be fed onto the brush thereby eliminating thenecessity for a separate soap container and for constant brush daubing.Various types of brushes with hollow handles containing soap have beenproposed; however, those known to the present applicants have beendefective either in construction or operation. Common defects of suchprior devices have included poor feeding mechanisms, poor soap-to-brushcontact, and poor control over the amount of soap used. Furthermore,soap in stick form inserted into a hollow handle of a brush has beenespecially troublesome in feeding the soap to the applicator due to atendency for the soap to swell when moist thus forcing the soap intotight contact with the surface of its container and impairing itsslidability. In contrast is the tendency of the soap to shrink and thusstick when it dries after moistening permitting the stick easily to fallout of its container. Also inherently defective in prior devices is thelack of control over the feeding of the soap to the applicatorfrequently resulting in an extreme waste of soap. In addition, priordevices generally have provided a relatively large area of intimatecontact between the applicator and the soap, either having them adjacentor by having the applicator impregnated with soap. Both of these methodsof applying soap to the applicator usually resulted in an excess oflather being created and in no way permitted the user to control howmuch lather he wanted.

Prior combination soap holders and applicators primarily used bristletype brushes for the application of the soap to the surface to becleaned or shaved and such applicators had all of the disadvantages ofthe well known shaving brush or scrub brush. Where the applicator mustbe repeatedly cleaned or sterilized, a brush-type applicator leaves muchto be desired; a thickly bristled brush is cleaned only with difficultyas it is impossible to achieve solvent-to-surface contact throughout.Further complications arise on repeated cleanings as natural bristlesare known to soften, loosen, an/or break off. If bristles of syntheticmaterials are employed, e.g. ny- 1011, some of the difiicultiesencountered with natural bristles are solved but as these bristles arestiffer and more brittle, bristle breakage is more prevelant. A furtherdifficulty with synthetic bristles is the harshness of the bristles ifthey are used on tender or easily irritated portions of the body. To thebest of the present applicants knowledge, no way has been developed tomake a very soft and pliable brush of synthetic bristles without havinga serious bristle breakage problem.

A further difiiculty with bristled brushes is the absence of a means ofinexpensively duplicating the texture and the pliability of the brushes.Duplicating the feel of a brush on sensitive portions of the human bodyis extremely difiicult and may involve choosing the right bristle forthe right position in the brush, an expensive manufacturing operation.

A few prior applicators have employed foam rubber sponges to overcomethe inherent difficulties of bristled brushes. Sponges are superior tobristled brushes in that their consistency can easily be controlled, andthey can be made and duplicated inexpensively and readily attached toother materials. These prior devices were unsatisfactory; however, asthey were not able to produce a quick lather because of their poorsoap-to-applicator contact; lather is produced not only by the wettingof a soap stick, but necessarily must include some agitation. Thebristled brush was ideally adapted for lathering soap since by movingthe brush over a surface to be lathered each bristle rubbed against itsadjacent bristles supplying this necessary agitation. However, a spongebeing more rigid in construction must have a very high porosity and mustbe compressible when moved over a surface to produce the desiredagitation within its pores. The pliability of a sponge is extremelyimportant as it is only when the pores of a sponge are deformed thatagitation between the pore surfaces may take place. The pliability of asponge, however is limited by the structure, the material, and the shapeof the sponge. Large sponges at most can be depressed and moved so as toachieve agitation only in a portion of the sponge at one time.

Another difliculty with sponge material is its cleaning; the porousstructure is more difiicult to wet with solvent uniformly than thebristles of a brush and similarly more difiicult to completely dry.Prior applicators using sponges did not cope with this problem butactually presented the problem at its worst by using sponges ofconsiderable thickness. In addition to the foregoing, prior combinationsoap holder and applicator devices known to the present applicants havebeen relatively costly and have not been adapted for quantityproduction.

It is therefore desirable to provide a combination soap holder andapplicator that efliciently consumes soap, is easily cleaned orsterilized, which incorporates an applicator of selectively variablestiffness, and which is inexpensively manufactured.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide an improved soapholder and applicator combination.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved soap holderand applicator employing an efficient method of feeding soap to anapplicator of a selective consistency.

A further object of our invention is to provide an inexpensive soapholder and applicator that can be cleaned or sterilized and repeatedlyused.

It is still a further object of our invention to provide a simple,inexpensive and disposable soap holder and applicator which can beeconomically employed for single-use applications.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent byreference to the following description and the accompanying drawing, andthe features of novelty which characterize our invention will be pointedout with particularly in the claims annexed to and forming a part ofthis specification.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of our invention, a tubularsoap stick holder open at both ends is provided, having a cylindricalsoap stick inserted at one end and having a plurality of teethprotruding from the inside surface of the tube and generally flush withthe other end. As the soap stick is moved toward the exit end of thetube, grooves are cut in the soap by the teeth thereby preventing thesoap from sliding out of the exit end of the tube when dry and thussubject to the aforementioned shrinkage, and further providing thefriction necessary for a positive displacement feeding mechanism. I Afollower element frictionally engaged with the interior wall of the soapholder is provided for insertion from the entrance end of the tube afterthe soap. This follower element for conjunctively supporting and feedingthe soap to the applicator is pushed into contact and thereafter alwaysremains in contact with the soap. By manually pushing on the followerelement, the soap is selectively fed through the exit end of the soapholder, the teeth cutting grooves in the soap stick thereby holding thesoap in place at all times. As the feeding of the soap when wet may bedifiicult because of its expansion against the inside walls of theholder, openings are provided in the molded follower element; theseopenings allow moisture to drain out of the soap stick and air tocirculate to the soap stick for drying the same.

An annular shaped, high porosity sponge applicator made of suitablematerial, such as very pliable sponge rubber, is provided. Thisapplicator has an inside diameter less than the outside diameter of thetubular handle and is thereby compressively and adhesively mounted onthe exterior surface of the tubular handle at the exit end. Such acylindrical applicator possesses the best combination of the advantagesof prior brush and sponge applicators; it is highly porous and can beeasily compressed and moved. Thus, dense lather is easily and quicklymade. A sponge of this shape can easily be repeatedly cleaned orsterilized as its effective transverse thickness is relatively small andthe rubber is not effected by the cleaning treatment. In addition,sponges can be selectively manufactured with various degrees ofstiffness,- porosity, rigidity and pliability without presenting anyduplication problem. To provide additional pliability and latherproduction, the annular sponge may be slit at various positions therebyallowing each section of the sponge to be moved further out of itsnormal position than the connected adjoining sections would permit.

A sponge also has the inherent advantage of being able to be attached tosurfaces by adhesive and thereby eliminating the expensive manufacturingof bristled brushes. Bristles have, since their inception, been mountedin small holes in tufts requiring at times, a selective placing of thebristles chosen for their specific properties in a pre-drilled holebefore adhesively attaching them. This process requires many moremachining and assembly steps, time, and expense than the simpleoperation of adhesively attaching a sponge without any necessarypreparation of either the sponge or the surface.

In accordance with a further aspect of our invention, a veryinexpensive, disposable, single-use, soap applicator, having the samelathering properties as the refillable applicator herein disclosed, isprovided by eliminating the soap stick and substituting therefor asponge impregnated with liquid soap. Upon moistening the impregnatedsponge, it operates in the same manner as the soap stick in that soap isfed to the sponge applicator by means of pressure applied by thefollower element. By varying the amount of soap impregnated on thesponge, the disposability of the applicator can be controlled. Such adisposable soap applicator is extremely desirable in applications where,for health reasons, the use of a sterile applicator is prescribed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the soap holderand applicator of the invention employing a soap stick;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the soapholder and applicator of the invention employing a soap-impregnatedsponge;

FIG. 3 is an exit end View of the cylindrical soap holder used in bothembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the molded follower element used in bothembodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a view of the working end of the applicator used in bothembodiments of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the drawing, there is shown anelongated tubular handle member 1, preferably molded from suitableplastic material such as polystyrene. A conventional elongated solidsoap stick 2 is inserted in handle 1 from entrance end 3 thereof and isadapted for longitudinal movement toward and out of the exit end 4 ofthe handle 1 in the direction shown by the arrow 5. Y

A follower element 6 is provided preferably molded from suitable plasticmaterial, such as polyethylene, and having a central disc portion 7 anda peripheral flange portion 8. A plurality of holes 9 are provided inthe disc portion 7, shown here as four in number, to allow moisture todrain out of the soap stick 2 and for air to circulate for drying thesame. Follower element 6 is positioned in handle member 1 with its discportion 7 engaging end 10 of the soap stick 2 and its flange portion 8friotionally engaging the inner wall 11 of the handle member 1. Followerelement 6 is employed manually to advance end 12 of the soap stick 2 outof exit end 4 of the handle member 1 in the direction shown by arrow Sasthe soap stick is expeneded by use.

A plurality of pointed teeth 13, shown here as four in number, areintegrally formed from inner wall 11 of handle member 1, flush with exitend 4 thereof, and extending radially inwardly, as shown. Teeth 13 arerespectively pyramidal in configuration defining cutting edges 14 facingentrance end 3 of handle member 1. As the soap stick 2 is manuallyadvanced by follower element 6 in the direction shown by arrow 5,.teeth13 cut axially extending grooves 15 in ,the peripheral surface of thesoap stick 2, thusproviding the necessary friction for controlling thefeeding of the soap stick to the sponge applicator and preventing thesoap stick, when dried, from falling out of the handle member 1.

An annular projeetion16 is integrally formed on the outer surface 17 ofthe handle member 1 adjacent but spaced from the exit end 4 thereof, andforming an annular shoulder 18 facing the exit end 4.

A tubular sponge applicator member 19 is provided having an initialun-compressed inside diameter somewhat smaller than the outside diameterof the handle member 1. Applicator 19 is assembled over the exit end 4of the handle member 1 with its inner end 20 seated against shoulder 18of the projection 16, as shown. Applicator 19 may be retained inassembled position by suitable adhesive applied to the outer surface 17and shoulder 18. It will be seen that the compressive assembly of theapplicator 19 over the exit end 4 causes distortion of the latheringportion 21 of the applicator19 to the configuration shown' in FIG. 1.

The end 12 of the soap stick 2 preferably extends somewhat beyond exitend 4 of handle member 1 and just into engagement with the inner surface22 of the lathering portion 21 of the applicator 19, as shown.

The use of an applicator 19 with high lathering properties makes itpossible to keep the soap stick 2 out of any substantial intimatecontact with the applicator 19. This provides for the maximum controlover the amount of soap used and for the highest soap efficiency.Ideally, it is desirable to apply a small amount of soap to theapplicator 19 at its inner surface 22 and to begin lathering with thatsoap, adding further soap only as needed. By not having the soapcontacting a large area of the applicator 19, a substantial compressiveforce must be applied to the applicators working surface 23 to add moresoap, thereby giving the user close control over the amount of soapused. As the protrusion of the soap stick 2 from the exit end 4 of thehandle member 1 is increased, the soap etficiency decreases. As the soapis consumed, the follower element 6 is manually pushed thereby forcingthe soap stick 2 in the direction of the arrow 5 to maintain the optimumlathering and soap efliciency position of the soap stick 2, as shown inFIG. 1.

The outer end 23 of the lathering portion 21 of the applicator 19 has aplurality of axially and radially extending slits 24 formed therein,shown here as four in number. These slits 24 divide the latheringportion 21 into four radial segments extending axially toward the exitend 4 of the handle member 1 to generally the plane of the end 12 of thesoap stick 2.

In a specific embodiment of our invention, handle member 1 has a lengthof 2 inches, an inside diameter of one inch, and an outside diameter of1 /8 inches. Lip 21 is axially displaced from exit end 12 by Vs inch andteeth 13 protrude inwardly from the surface 11 of the handle member 1 byinch. Applicator 19 has an initial length of 1 inch, an inside diameterof inch, an outside diameter of 1 /2 inches, and slits 24 extend /2 inchaxially into the applicator from surface 23. Soap stick 2 has an initiallength of approximately 2 inches and a diameter of approximately inch.

Now referring to FIG. 2 in which like elements are indicated by likereference numerals, there is shown another embodiment of our inventionparticularly suited for a single use application, being modified fromthe embodiment of FIG. 1 only by the substitution of a relatively shortsoap-impregnated sponge 25 for the soap stick 2. This soap-impregnatedsponge 25 is secured in the same position as the soap stick 2 byidentical pyramidal teeth 13 and follower element 6. Upon moistening theimpregnated sponge 25, it operates in the same manner as the soap stick2 in that soap is fed to the applicator 19 by means of pressure appliedto the follower element 6.

The particular length and position of the soap stick 2 orsoap-impregnated sponge 25 in relation to the handle member 1 and theapplicator 19, the number of drying holes 9 in the follower element 6and the number of slits 24 in the applicator 19 shown in the drawingshould not be taken as limiting as they are only examples of ourinvention. As this soap holder and applicator is applied to cleaning orshaving applications differing from those dis closed, these exemplarystructures may be modified.

Our invention possesses all of the desirable features of prior soapholders and applicators and, in addition, has an optimum type applicatorand soap feeding mechanism. The applicator is easily and inexpensivelymanufactured and attached to any surface by adhesive. Additionally, theapplicator is easily cleaned or sterilized and is inexpensivelyreproduced with the same texture and lather producing capabilities. Thefeeding system is so constructed that the soap stick is supported atboth ends and provides an eflicient, positive displacement feed of thesoap to the applicator.

While we have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of ourinvention, further modifications and improvements will occur to thoseskilled in the art and we desire therefore in the appended claims tocover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofour invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A soap holder and applicator comprising: a tubular handle memberhaving interior dimensions and being open at at least one end thereof; asoap stick supported in said handle member and projecting axially beyondsaid one end thereof, said soap stick having exterior dimensions lessthan said interior dimensions, a plurality of inwardly projecting teethformed on the inner surface of said handle member adjacent, said one endrespectively to engage said soap stick for retaining the same in saidhandle member, said soap stick being advanceable toward said one endagainst the resistance of said projecting teeth; and an annularapplicator member formed of sponge material mounted on the exteriorsurface of said handle member at said one end thereof extending axiallyoutwardly therefrom and having a first portion adjacent said one end incontact with said soap stick and a second portion axially displaced fromsaid soap stick.

2. A soap holder and applicator comprising: a tubular handle memberhaving interior dimensions and being open at at least one end thereof; acylindrical sponge member impregnated with soap supported in said handlemember and projecting axially beyond said one end thereof, saidcylindrical sponge member having exterior dimensions less than saidinterior dimensions, frictional means within said handle member forsecuring said cylindrical sponge member within said handle member inspacedapart relationship from said handle member, said frictional meansconstricting the interior of said handle member; and an annularapplicator member formed of sponge material mounted on the exteriorsurface of said handle member at said one end thereof extending axiallyoutwardly therefrom and having a first portion adjacent said one end incontact with said cylindrical sponge member and a second portion axiallydisplaced from said cylindrical sponge member.

3. A soap holder and applicator comprising: an elongated tubular handlemember open at both ends; an elongated cylindrical stick of solid soapsupported in said handle member for axial movement toward one endthereof, said stick having one end thereof projecting axially beyondsaid one end of said handle member, said stick and said handle memberhaving exterior and interior diameters, respectively, said exteriordiameter being less than said interior diameter when said stick is moistand expanded, frictional means for opposing said axial movement of saidstick mounted within said handle member, securing said stick in saidhandle member in spacedapart relationship from said handle member andpartially constricting the interior of said handle member; said handlemember having an annular projection integrally formed on its exteriorsurface spaced from said one end thereof and defining an annularshoulder; an annular ap plicator sleeve member formed of sponge materialhaving an initial inside diameter less than the outside diameter of saidhandle member, said applicator member having one end thereof mountedover and adhered to said exterior surface of said one end of said handlemember and seated against said shoulder, the other end of saidapplicator member extending axially outwardly beyond said one end ofsaid handle member to define a first portion in contact with said stickand extending axially outwardly beyond said one end of said stick todefine a lathering second portion said second portion having an axiallength greater than said first portion, the inside diameter of saidlathering portion being smaller than the outside diameter of said stick;and a follower member engaging the other end of said stick andfrictionally engaging the inner surface of said handle member forfeeding one end of said stick toward said lathering portion as saidstick is consumed.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said frictional means comprises aplurality of teeth elements integrally formed on said inner surfaceadjacent said one end thereof, said teeth elements biting into saidstick thereby to prevent the same from falling out of said handle memberand cutting axial grooves in said stick as the same is fed toward saidlathering portion.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said teeth are formedsubstantially flush with said one end of said handle member, said teethbeing respectively pyramidal in configuration defining cutting edgesfacing the other end of said handle member.

6. A disposable soap holder and applicator comprising: an elongatedtubular handle member open at both ends; a relatively short generallycylindrical soap-dispensing member formed of sponge material positionedin said handle member, said dispensing member being impregnated withsoap and having one end projecting axially beyond said one end of saidhandle member; said handle member having an annular projectionintegrally formed on its exterior surface spaced from said one endthereof and defining an annular shoulder; an annular applicator sleevemember formed of sponge material having an initial inside diameter lessthan the outside diameter of said handle member, said applicator memberhaving one end thereof mounted over and adhered to said exterior surfaceof said one end of said handle member and seated against said shoulder,the other end of said applicator member extending axially outwardlybeyond said one end of said handle member and said one end of saiddispensing member to define a lathering portion, the inside diameter ofsaid lathering portion being smaller than the outside diameter of saiddispensing member; and a member engaging the other end of saiddispensing member and frictionally engaging the inner surface of saidhandle member for retaining said dispensing member in said handlemember.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said handle member has a pluralityof teeth elements integrally formed on said inner surface adjacent saidone end thereof and engaging said dispensing member thereby cooperatingwith said engaging member to retain said dispensing member in saidhandle member.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein a second portion of saidapplicator member is contiguous to said dispensing member, said portionbeing shorter in axial length than said lathering portion.

9. A soap holder and applicator comprising: an elongated tubular handlemember open at both ends; an elongated cylindrical stick of solid soapsupported in said handle member for axial movement toward one endthereof, said stick having one end thereof projecting axially beyondsaid one end of said handle member, said stick and said handle memberhaving exterior and interior diameters, respectively, said exteriordiameter being less than said interior diameter when said stick is moistand expanded, frictional means for opposing said axial movemerit of saidstick mounted within said handle member, securing said stick in saidhandle member in spaced-apart relationship from said handle member andpartially constricting the interior of said handle member; an annularapplicator sleeve member formed of sponge material having an initialinside diameter less than the outside diameter of said handle member,said applicator member having one end thereof mounted over and adheredto said exterior surface of said one end of said handle member, theother end of said applicator member extending axially outwardly beyondsaid one end of said handle member to define a first portion in contactwith said stick and extending axially outwardly beyond said one end ofsaid stick to define a laithering second portion, said second portionhaving an axial length greater than said first portion, the insidediameter of said lathering portion being smaller than the outsidediameter of said stick; and a follower member engaging the other end ofsaid stick and frictionally engaging the inner surface of said handlemember for feeding one end of said stick toward said lathering portionas said stick is consumed.

10. A disposable soap holder and applicator comprising: an elongatedtubular handle member open at both ends; a relatively short generallycylindrical soap-dispensing member formed of sponge material secured insaid handle member, said dispensing member being impregnated with soapand having one end projecting axially beyond said one end of said handlemember; an annular applicator sleeve member formed of sponge materialhaving an initial inside diameter less than the outside diameter of saidhandle member, said applicator member having one end thereof secured tosaid one end of said handle member, the other end of said applicatormember extending axially outwardly beyond said one end of said handlemember to define a lathering portion, theinside diameter of saidlatherting portion being smaller than the outside diameter of saiddispensing member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES A.WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

3. A SOAP HOLDER AND APPLICATOR COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED TUBULAR HANDLEMEMBER OPEN AT BOTH ENDS; AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL STICK OF SOLID SOAPSUPPORTED IN SAID HANDLE MEMBER FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT TOWARD ONE ENDTHEREOF, SAID STICK HAVING ONE END THEREOF PROJECTING AXIALLY BEYONDSAID ONE END OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER, SAID STICK AND SAID HANDLE MEMBERHAVING EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DIAMETERS, RESPECTIVELY, SAID EXTERIORDIAMETER BEING LESS THAN SAID INTERIOR DIAMETER WHEN SAID STICK IS MOISTAND EXPANDED, FRICTIONAL MEANS FOR OPPOSING SAID AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAIDSTICK MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HANDLE MEMBER, SECURING SAID STICK IN SAIDHANDLE MEMBER IN SPACEDAPART RELATIONSHIP FROM SAID HANDLE MEMBER ANDPARTIALLY CONSTRICTING THE INTERIOR OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER; SAID HANDLEMEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR PROJECTION INTEGRALLY FORMED ON ITS EXTERIORSURFACE SPACED FROM SAID ONE END THEREOF AND DEFINING AN ANNULARSHOULDER; AN ANNULR APPLICATOR SLEEVE MEMBER FORMED OF SPONGE MATERIALHAVING AN INITIAL INSIDE DIAMETER LESS THAN THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAIDHANDLE MEMBER, SAID APPLICATOR MEMBER HAVING ONE END THEREOF MOUNTEDOVER AND ADHERED TO SAID EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID ONE END OF SAID HANDLEMEMBER AND SEATED AGAINST SAID SHOULDER, THE OTHER END OF SAIDAPPLICATOR MEMBER EXTENDING AXIALLY OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID ONE END OFSAID HANDLE MEMBER TO DEFINE A FIRST PORTION IN CONTACT WITH SAID STICKAND EXTENDING AXIALLY OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID ONE END OF SAID STICK TODEFINE A LATHERING SECOND PORTION SAID SECOND PORTION HAVING AN AXIALLENGTH GREATER THAN SAID FIRST PORTION, THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF SAIDLATHERING PORTION BEING SMALLER THAN THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID STICK;AND A FOLLOWER MEMBER ENGAGING THE OTHER END OF SAID STICK ANDFRICTIONALLY ENGAGING THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER FORFEEDING ONE END OF SAID STICK TOWARD SAID LATHERING PORTION AS SAIDSTICK IS CONSUMED.